But the work was not destined to stop here. "Signs and wonders" were daily done by the apostles. In the previous chapter, we have an account of a miracle wrought by Peter and John upon a man lame from his birth. The miracle was an undoubted one, and wrought in favor of a cripple, well known to all who were in the habit of frequenting the temple. There could be no deception in the case. From being unable to help himself, in a single moment he standshe leaps he walks-he follows his benefactors into the temple, and mingles, with the demonstrations of his joy, the praises of God, by whose power he had been cured.

The scene soon attracts the attention of the people in the temple. A crowd is collected to the spot, and the circumstances are explained. Jesus Christ is duly honored by the apostles; and the charge of having rejected and condemned him is driven home upon the consciences of the people, with all the bold and manly eloquence of which Peter was

master.

Meanwhile, intelligence of these proceedings was conveyed to the men in power by some of their zealous partisans. Instant alarm seized the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, who soon made their appearance, and committed Peter and John to prison.

An inquiry into the circumstances did not serve to allay their apprehensions, or lessen their indignation. That night, however, nothing could be done. In the morning, probably at an early hour, rulers, elders, and scribes, with Annas the high-priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, were assembled. to consider what should be done. The prisoners were brought out, and placed at the bar, and the inquiry was put: "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"

It was the precise question which Peter could have wished asked; and, while he paid due deference to this supreme council of the Jewish nation-whose jurisdiction he did not deny-he proceeded to answer it; which having done, with

great plainness, he himself turns accuser, and proceeds to bring a direct accusation against his judges. He felt that it was no time to flatter. It was no time to conceal. Hence, he directly and boldly charges them with the bitterest malice and the deepest guilt, for the part they took against the Son of God: You brought him to the cross! you mocked his dying agonies! you would have blotted out all the hopes of the sons of men by the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth! But what you would have frustrated, you have accomplished. The death of Christ, which you, by your malice, effected, has laid the foundation for the salvation of a world. He is at the right hand of God at this present moment; and, through his name, by faith in his name, this man has been made whole.

Peter and John were unlearned men. They were unacquainted with the subtilities of logic and the arts of eloquence. But Peter was, nevertheless, eloquent-too eloquent-too bold—too truthful, for the ease and comfort of his auditors. To the address of Peter, there was no reply. The facts were as he had stated them. The miracle had been wrought. The explanation was comprehensible, and could not be gainsayed. The proud doctors of Jerusalem were silent and confounded in the presence of the fishermen of Galilee.

But what should be done? Temporarily dismissing the apostles, they consulted together about some expedient for extricating themselves from their present embarrassment. They had, however, nothing to do, and could do nothing, but only expostulate with the apostles, and threaten them. This they now did; commanding them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

The apostles, however, had gathered still more strength. They saw and appreciated the confusion of their judges. They also knew whose ministers they were, and upon whom they might depend in the hour of their need. They made,

therefore, the immediate and explicit declaration to the Sanhedrim, that they would not obey. They were apostles of a triumphant and an enthroned Redeemer, and his authority they should respect; they should and would preach in his name.

The apostles were safe. Exasperated as the council were to the highest pitch, they could do nothing more than dismiss them. The popular voice was in their favor; hundreds and thousands were in the process of believing, and turning unto the Lord. Five thousand had joined their standard.

They went forth, therefore, from the Sanhedrim, with the maledictions of rulers and priests upon their heads. But they went in triumph-filled with holy admiration and gratitude at their deliverance from the eminent peril in which, for the cause of Jesus, they had been involved. They returned to their fellow-disciples; they reported what had befallen them, and the grace of God which had enabled them to vindicate the cause of their Master.

It was an hour of joy-of solemn joy. It was a time for thanksgiving for mercies received; a time for prayer for future help in similar trials which might come upon them. They spent a season in prayer-prayed for themselvesprayed for their enemies-prayed for the cause in which they were engaged.

Nor did they pray in vain. God gave them immediate evidence that he did hear, and did accept them. The place where they were, was shaken by some sudden and remarkable convulsion, like that of an earthquake, or the rapid and violent movement of the Spirit of God. But whatever it might be, there was an exhibition of great power; and such power as carried the delightful conviction to their bosoms, that God was on their side, and would protect them. Moreover, they had the further evidence that God heard; for they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and were endowed with new power, by which they were enabled to speak the word of God with still greater boldness.

The heralds of the Cross, at the present day, may not anucipate such miraculous interposition, in times of peril and persecution, as these apostles enjoyed, if on such times they fall. But the glorious assurance has been made them: “Lo! I am with you unto the end of the world." And, in accordance with this assurance, Christ has ever watched over and supported his faithful servants. They have not, indeed, been exempted from opposition, or even persecution. Nay: many of them have been appointed to services which, with all their prudence, have involved them in severe trials and intense sufferings. Not a few have been called to yield up life for the name of Jesus. What then? Such sacrifices have redounded to the honor of their Master, and to the triumph of his cause, while they have added to the eternal joy of those who have thus cheerfully taken up the cross. Struggle on, then, ye servants of the living God! Toil as you have strength! Resist the machinations of the arch adversary, and thwart, while you are able, the evil counsel of the adversaries of the Cross; and, by so doing, you will secure to yourselves a victory as glorious as it will prove lasting!

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

PRAYER OF STEPHEN.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.-Acts vii. 59, 60.

AMONG the first converts in Jerusalem, there seems to have been many in necessitous circumstances. Their wants, however, were cheerfully and liberally supplied by the more wealthy believers; who "sold their possessions, and laid the price at the apostles' feet, that distribution might be made to every man according as he had need." Some Grecian widows, however, were neglected in the daily ministration. To

prevent a recurrence of such neglect, the apostles proposed the institution of a new order of men, whose duty it should be to look after the poorer disciples, and make provision for their wants.

This proposal was unanimously approved, and was executed without delay. Seven men, qualified for the office, were selected, who were set apart for that service by prayer and the imposition of hands. In passing, we may remark, that the disciples adopted no important measures without seeking the divine blessing. Prayer mingled in all their movements, and gave life and spirituality to all their

conduct.

Among the seven deacons selected, Stephen seems to have been preeminent-" a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost;" who did great wonders and miracles among the people. These attracted the notice of the adversaries of the Church, who challenged him to a public disputation about the new religion, in the hope that they should be able to confute his arguments; or, at least, to draw from him some unguarded words, for which they might accuse him to the rulers. But they were unable to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. His antagonists were confounded. They could obtain no advantage over him. But where argument failed, malice succeeded. Under a pretext of zeal for the glory of God, they charged him before the Sanhedrim with speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God. To substantiate this charge, they hired witnesses, and instructed them what to swear. It was further affirmed, that he had been heard to say that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy that place, (Jerusalem,) and change the customs which Moses

delivered them.

Stephen had every thing to fear from the furious zeal of his judges. They were Jews, imbued with all the bigotry and prejudice of their nation, and exasperated at the success of the new religion, which they had confidently believed had